Connolly, P. E., & Garcia Bravo, E., & Bertoline, G. R., & Hassan, R. P. (2015, June), Transforming a Computer Graphics Department from Traditional Education Methods to a Polytechnic Approach  Paper presented at 2015 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Seattle, Washington. 10.18260/p.24937

\bibitem{asee_peer_24937}
  Connolly, P. E., \& Garcia Bravo, E., \& Bertoline, G. R., \& Hassan, R. P. (2015, June), \emph{Transforming a Computer Graphics Department from Traditional Education Methods to a Polytechnic Approach}
  Paper presented at 2015 ASEE Annual Conference \& Exposition, Seattle, Washington.
  10.18260/p.24937

Patrick E. Connolly, Esteban Garcia Bravo, Gary R. Bertoline, and Raymond Patrick Hassan.  "Transforming a Computer Graphics Department from Traditional Education Methods to a Polytechnic Approach".  2015 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Seattle, Washington, 2015, June.  ASEE Conferences, 2015.  https://peer.asee.org/24937 Internet.  22 Feb, 2025

\bibitem{asee_peer_24937}
  Patrick E. Connolly, Esteban Garcia Bravo, Gary R. Bertoline, and Raymond Patrick Hassan.
  "Transforming a Computer Graphics Department from Traditional Education Methods to a Polytechnic Approach".
  \emph{2015 ASEE Annual Conference \& Exposition, Seattle, Washington, 2015, June}.
  ASEE Conferences, 2015.
  https://peer.asee.org/24937 Internet.  22 Feb, 2025

@INPROCEEDINGS{asee_peer_24937
author = "Patrick E. Connolly, Esteban Garcia Bravo, Gary R. Bertoline, and Raymond Patrick Hassan"
title = "Transforming a Computer Graphics Department from Traditional Education Methods to a Polytechnic Approach"
booktitle = "2015 ASEE Annual Conference \& Exposition"
year = "2015"
month = "June"
address = "Seattle, Washington"
publisher = "ASEE Conferences"
note = {https://peer.asee.org/24937}
number = {10.18260/p.24937}
}

TY  - CPAPER
AB  -     Transforming a Computer Graphics Department from Traditional Education                      Methods to a Polytechnic ApproachThe computer graphics department at a major research institution in the United States of Americais undergoing a radical transformation involving the transition of teaching methods, classroomstructure, instructor roles, and student autonomy. There are many challenges impacting thistransformation, including resource allocations of time, space, and faculty/student ratio demands,how to manage both ‘legacy’ programs for existing students concurrently with the polytechnicprogram for incoming students, and how to scale up the successful polytechnic modelimplemented in small cohorts to a much larger group.Additionally, the polytechnic approach focuses on skill competencies rather than the traditionalcourse credit tracking for student achievement. A competency-based methodology utilizesdemonstrated learning by the student and can be challenging due to a more open and student-driven process that allows for multiple paths for achievement. The polytechnic approach tolearning emphasizes learning by researching and doing, risk taking, and the blending of liberalarts into technical subject matter and education. The faculty members involved in polytechnicinstruction are active as mentors to the students, providing guidance as the students strategicallyplan out their own educational paths. This approach intrinsically motivates students and providesgraduates that better meet the needs of industry.This paper will document the process followed to transition from a traditional instructional unitto a polytechnic focused department, will report on the challenges encountered and overcome,will provide initial results and feedback, and will discuss potential plans for the future. Adiscussion on the concept of a polytechnic institution, its definition, and transformative naturewill be included to clarify the reasons behind this radical and somewhat unsettling approach toeducation reformation.
AU  - Patrick E. Connolly
AU  - Esteban Garcia Bravo
AU  - Gary R. Bertoline
AU  - Raymond Patrick Hassan
CY  - Seattle, Washington
DA  - 2015/06/14
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Transforming a Computer Graphics Department from Traditional Education Methods to a Polytechnic Approach
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/24937
DO  - 10.18260/p.24937
ER  -